Centrifugal machine



Feb. 12 1924.

w. E. BOCK CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE Filed April 28.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 000-0000 0 o o o o .o c ao-coo Feb. 12' 1924,

W. E. BOCK CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE Filed April '28, 1 922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT UR @flw c Patented Feb. 12, 1924.

I UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

WILLIAM EMIL BOOK, OF EAGLE POINT COLONY, OHIO, ABSIGNOR TO BOOK LAUNDRY MACHINE COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CENTRIIUGAL MACHINE.

Application filed April 28, 1922. Serial No. 557,059.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILIJAM EMIL Boon, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Eagle Point Colony, county of \Vood, and State of Ohio, have invented a-certain new and useful Centrifugal Machine; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompany ing drawings and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to centrifugal separating machines, and more particularly to a machine of the type adapted for drying clothes after washing.

Machines of this character generally include an upright shaft or spindle, a bowl or container carried by the shaft at the end thereof with its center of gravity substantially coincident with the shaft axis, together with means for imparting rotation to the shaft. In order to prevent destruc tive and dangerous vibration of the machine when rotating, part-icularly at high speeds,

it is desirable to place the driven parts as nearly as possible in dynamic balance.

As is well understood, static balance and dynamic balance are not the same, i. e., a part which is in perfect static balance may e far from dynamic balance.

If this dynamic balance is not present, a rotation of the parts sets up a bad vibration therein, creates injurious lateral thrust on the shaft bearings, and necessitates increased power to drive the parts, such objectionable features increasing with the speed of rotation and with the extent to which the parts are out of dynamic balance.

These conditions are articularly present and noticeable in centri ugal machines used for extracting liquids from non-liquid materials, such, for instance, as in the drying of clothes, which, When placed in a receptacle, do not automatically adjust themselves or equally distribute their weight therein. In practice, it is impossible, or at least impractical, to place such materials in the receptacle in such a manner as to se cure dynamic balance of the load. Thus, if the-re is only a slight errorin balance and the receptacle is driven at a speed of say 1600 revolutions per minute, the vibration occasioned thereby will be so great as to cause the machine to badly jump around the floor on which placed, and therefore be extremely dangerous to operate.

Numerous attempts have been made to obviate these objections, but so far as I am aware, they have not been satisfactory, and are not such as would render practical centrifugal clotlies-driers or similar machines where non-liquid materials are operated on, and the bowl or container thereof is driven at high speed.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus of the class described which will enable the centrifugal bowl, even though unevenly loaded to a considerable extent, to automatically acquire dynamic balance, thereby eliminating vibration and greatly diminishing the power required for performing the" work.

The problems invo ved in a high speed centrifugal machine to prevent vibration when there are unbalanced conditions are (1) the problem of support, and (2) the problem of transmitting driving torque.

he support for the rocking body must permit (a) rocking of the body into symmetrical or balanced relation with the plane of rotation, and (b) free floating to permit the body to rotate about any axis required for balance. The torque transmission must be such as not to interfere with the free rocking of the mass or the floating of its su port. I

he result desired is obtained in the present instance by a novel combination and arrangement of parts whereby the rotatable container is permitted to have free universal rocking movements with respect to its support so that it can move freely into balanced relation to the plane of rotation; the support is mounted for floating movement to permit free gyration thereof'about the axis of the container mass, and the means for transmitting torque to the container is such as not to interfere with the free gyration of the support or rocking movements of the container. It has been found from actual experiments that if any one of these elements is absent, commerciall practical, smoothrunning results cannot be obtained.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and While, in its broader aspect, it is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a machine embodying the invention and particularly designed for use as a clothes drier. Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof with the enclosing shell removed, the motor in full, and the bowl shown weighted on one side and at rest. Fig. 3 is a diagraminatical view illustrating in full lines the positions of the bowl, shaft and motor when the former is rotated, with its center of mass disposed off center and illustrating in dotted lines the axis of rotation and horizontal plane of the center of mass. Fig. l is a diagraiuniatical plan of the bowl and geometric center thereof in action. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the mounting ring for the motor.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical plan the motor mounting means with the ing ring between the motor and sup; frame removed, and Fi g. 7 is a section on the line.i'--7 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a hollow pedestal or standard which is open at its top and has its lower end portion broadened to form a hollow base 2 for setting on a floor or other support. An imperforate shell 3 of cylindrical form is mounted on the top of the pedestal l concentric therewith and has a central bottom opening receiving the upper end of the pedestal. The shell bottom is annularly depressed around its opening to form a trough 4, which has an outlet spout 5 atone side for the drainage of liquid therefrom. The shell is provided with a large top opening adapted to be closed by a cover 7. Th pedestal and shell are preferably, but not necessarily, of sheet metal construction.

An electric motor 10 is suspended within the base portion of the pedestal for yielding universal rocking movements relative thereto, as hereinafter described, with its rotor axis normally vertically disposed. The mo tor frame 11, which carries the field-12, is, in the present instance, of cylindrical form with its top preferably 0 on or devoid of the customary shaft bearing and with its lower end provided with a centrally disposed upstanding bearing sleeve 13 preferably extending to or above the upper end of the frame and having a suitable anti-friction step bearing 14 in its bottom. An upright shaft or spindle 15 is journaled at its lower end portion in the sleeve bearing 13 with its end resting on the bearing 14 so that it is free to rotate within the frame bearing but is prevented from lateral movements relative thereto. The shaft projects upward from the motor through the pedestal 1 and into the shell 3.

The rotor 16 of the motor is mounted for free rotation around the sleeve 13 within th field 12 and has at its upper end a yoke or spider 17 extending over the upper end of the bearing sleeve 13 and provided in axial relation to the rotor and above the sleeve with a bearing 18 for receiving and fixedly engaging the shaft 15 whereby the shaft and rotor are caused to turn together.

The motor is mounted for yielding rocking movements to permit lateral rocking movements of the shaft 15 projecting therefrom, and the rocking center of the motor and shaft preferably substantially coincides with the center of mass of the motor. A simple and highly eiiicient form of mounting for this purpose consists in providing the base portion 2 of the pedestal, a distance above its edge, with an internal annular flange 19 of rigid construction, the central 1 opening 20 of which is larger than the diameter of the motor frame 11 and provided at opposite sides thereof, or in diametrically opposed relation, with a pair of inwardly projecting spurs 21, one at each side of the flange axis, the space between the spurs being sufficient to freely mount the motor frame therein. The motor frame is provided on its periphery, substantially centrally of its ends and in diametrically opposed relation, with a pair of radially projecting spurs 22 adapted to be freely disposed, with the motor, within the flange spurs at right angles to the diametrical line of the flange spurs and in circumferential alignment therewith. A ring 23 freely encircles the motor circumferentially thereof and is provided therearound with four equidistantly spaced loops of substantially rectan ular form in longitudinal section and each a apted to receive one of the s ms 21 and 22 together with blocks 24 0 rubber or other suitable yielding material disposed above and below the s urs. It is important that the cushion bloc s 24 support the motor in such manner as to act as centralizing means which normally tend to hold. the motor with its shaft in vertical position. The yields.- bility of the motor support, however, enables the motor to automatically and freely adjust itself to the forces set up during rotation by reason of the center of gravity of the load being offset from the shaft axis, and as soon as the shaft is relieved of such forces it returns to' normal vertical position. A control switch 25 for the motor is mounted on the shell 3 in convenient reach of the operator and has the wires extending therefrom through a conduit 26.

A bowl or'container 27 for the clothes or other material to be acted on is mounted centrally of its bottom on the upper end of.

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flexible joint connection 28 is provided between the shaft and bowl. A simple and efiicient joint of this character consists in fixedly attaching the arms 28" of the shaft 15 to a disk 28" of leather, canvas, rubber or other suitable flexible material and fixedly attaching the marginal portion of the disk to the bowl bottom in radial spaced relation to the shaft, as shown in Fig. 7

The bowl 27 is of drum form with a fairly large opening in its top and has a weighted bottom portion 29 which extends up into the central portion of the bowl and is intended to concentrate the major ortion of the bowl weight near its center. he dead weight, or that of the bowl, should preferably outweigh the liv weight, or that of the clothes or other material placed in the bowl, about 4 or 5 to 1, so that when rotation is started the center of gravity of the entire mass will not be too far away from the geometric center of the bowl. This feature keeps the starting torque low which is an important item as it enables the motor to be smaller than otherwise required and there isless liability of burnin out the motor coils.

The weighted bo y portion 29 is'provided centrally in its bottom with a socket 30, which receives the u per end of the shaft 15 and its flexible joint 28, the latter being connected to the bottom portion of the socket and disposed so that the center of ravity of the owl is preferably below the joint, thereby causing the bowl to normally stand in level position. The bowl overhangs the trough 4, and its side wall and the outer edge portion of its bottom are perforated to permit liquid to be thrown outward therefrom b centrifugal forceinto the shell 3, where it is collected by the trough 4t and then discharged therefrom through the spout 5.

In the use of an ap aratus of this character it is extremel diflibult, if not impossible, to distribute clothes or other material evenly within the bowl so that the center of gyration of the bowl mass with its load will remain in alignment with the ometric axis of the rotating parts. The istribution of clothes or other material within the bowl might easily be such that the bowl would be very much overbalanced, or in an exaggerated case, the load might be entirely disposed within one side portion of the bowl,

as indicated in Fig. 2. WVhen such condition is present it is absolutely necessary, in order to prevent bad destructive vibration and jumping of the-machine, even when running at a relatively slow speed, that the bowl be permitted to so automatically adjust itself with respect to the driving source as to acquire dynamic balance. This is illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein 10, 15 and 27 respectively designate the motor, shaft and bowl, (1 the universal rocking center of the motor, 6 the universal rocking center of the bowl relative to the shaft,\c the center of ration after the bowl has acquired its ull velocit d the axisyof gyration passing throng the point 0, and e the lane of rotation which intersects the axis d at the point 0 and also intersects the rocking axis of the bowl. It is evident that as the bowl is brought up to speed, the center of gravity of the mass will seek by centrifugal action to assume a position in the plane e, which action is permitted by the universal. rockin connection between shaft 15 and bowl 2| at the point I). Initially the parts will rotate about the axis of the shaft 15, but as velocity is acquired, there will be a shifting from this axis of rotation to the axis at where the maximum velocity is attained. This action is permitted by the free floating of the point 12 which in turn is rmitted by the rocking center a. There i'e the shaft 15 will gyrate about the axis d and the motor 10 about the center a. It is further evident that the bowl is thus permitted to freely accommodate itself to the forces generated by the rotation of the bowl so that it will run smoothly at high speeds without exerting bending or fatiguing stresses on the shaft and without causing it to exert uneven lateral pressures on its bearings, thereby eliminating practically all vibration when the bowl is driven at high speeds, prolonging the life of the bearing,

and making igh speed centrifugal machines ractical for commercial use as clothes riers and extractors of liquids from other materials which from their nature would not automatically distribute themselves uniformly about the bowl axis so that the center of gyration of the material would coincide with that of the bowl and with the axis of rotation thereof. The action of the bowl, when rotated with its center of gravity offset from its geometric axis, is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4. In this diagram the load is distributed in the bowl so that in d namic condition it is concentrated at f with the center of. ration located at 0, while the rockin or geometric center of the bowl is at b. Vith the load distributed in this manner the bowl center I), when the bowl is driven, will be caused to revolve about the point 0 as a center, as indicated by the circle g.

I am aware that numerous attempts have been made to overcome the vibratlon incident to an uneven loading of high speed centrifugal machines but in no case to my knowledge have the elements been combined as herein described and claimed.

In my invention the arrangement of parts is such, and the various relatively movable automatically adjustable parts are so freely movable with res ect to each other, that practically the entire force generated by the ill motor in startin and runnin is utilized in rotating the siaft and bow instead of being lost in overcoming forces generated by reason of the geometric axis of the rotating centrifugal parts being offset from the center of gravity and true axis of rotation of the bowl, thereby causing the machine to have a very low starting torque and enabling it to be run by a low power motor. For instance, it is found that a clothes drier having abowl 16 inches in diameter and weighing approximately 35 pounds, can, when loaded with an additional weight of from 20 to unds of material, be easily started and quickly run up to and maintain a speed of 1806 to 2000 R. P. M. by a hoise power electric motor, without danger of burning out the coils and short-circuiting on account of overloading and binding of bearings. A machine constructed in accordance with the invention has been subjected to the severe test of throwing a wet wadded up sheet into one side of the bowl when runningat high speed without imparting any perceptible vibration to the machine frame, due to the parts so quickly and easily adjusting themselves to the new forces set up by this action.

- In the specific construction illustrated in the drawings, the bowl 27, both in unloaded and loaded condition, is in stable equilibrium that is, the center of gravity is below 'its point of support. This will permit the automatic adjustment into static equilibrium. Also, when rotation is imparted to the bowl, centrifugal action will automatically rock the same into symmetrical relation to the plane of rotation. This latter effect is not, however, dependent solely upon the stable equilibrium of the bowl when in static condition, it bein onl necessary that the centrifugal force be su cient to produce the required rocking effect. The centrifugal force which moves the rocking member into symmetrical relation to the plane of rotation is generated in the present embodiment of the invention by the weight 29 secured to the lower central portion of the bowl.

In the practical operation of machines constructed like the one illustrated herein, it is shown that the conditions closely a proximate those of a body rotating free y i in space, that is, the container is permitted to assume any position, within predetermined rocking limits, which will. enable it, when rapidly rotated, to turn about its center of mass, and that the yielding mounting of the shaft and the stiffness of the disk in the universal joint connection between the shaft and basket do not materially interfere with such action. It is also shown that the resistance offered by the base cushions to a rockin of the shaft is so'slight in comparison wit 1 the inertia of the machine that I wish it understood that my invention is 4 not limited to any particular form, arrangement or constructlon of the parts, as it is capable of numerous modifications without de arting from the s irit of the claims.

aving thus descri my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,- v

1. In a centrifugal machine, a shaft mounted for universal rockin movements, a bowl su ported by the sha t and havin universa rocking connection therewith, an a motor connectexl to the shaft for driving the same and having rocking movements therewith, the wei ht of the motor being substantially centra ized with respect to the rocking center of the shaft.

2. In a centrifugal machine, a support, a motor carried for universal rocking move-- ments by the support and having its rotor axis vertically disposed, the rocking center of the motor being adjacent to its center of gravity, a shaft connected to the motor for rocking movements therewith and driven by the rotor thereof, and a container su ported by the shaft and being universally rockable relative thereto.

3. In a centrifugal machine, a support, a motor carried for universal rocking movements by the support, a verticall disposed shaft carried by the motor for roc ing movements therewith anddriven thereby and a bowl carried by the shaft for rocking movements therewith and universal rocking movements relative thereto, with its int of connection to the shaft substantial y in vertical alignment with its normal center of gravity.

4. In a centrifugal machine, a support, a motor carried by the support for universal rocking movements and having its rotor axis norma ly verticall disposed, the -motor frame having an elbngated bearing coaxial with. the rotor, a vertical shaft journaled in said bearing and. in driven connection with the rotor, and a cylindrical container carried for universal rocking movements by the shaft in spaced relation to the motor.

5. In a centrifugal machine, a support, an

electric motor carried by the support for universal rocking movements with its rotor axis normally vertically disposed, the field frame of the motor being open at its upper end and provided at its lower end with a centrally disposed upwardly projecting sleeve bearing and the rotor of the motor being mounted around the bearing sleeve concentric thereto and'having a bearing at its upper end in axial alignment with the bearing sleeve, a shaft journaled at its lower end in the bearing sleeve and fixedly projecting up through the rotor bearing and above the same to have rocking movements with the motor, and a bowl carried by the shaft at its upper end for universal rocking movements relative thereto.

6. In a centrifugal machine, a support, an electric motor carried by the support for universal rockin movements with its rotor axis vertically isposed, the field frame of the motor being open at its u per end and rovided at its lower end wit a centrally isiosed upwardly projecting sleeve bearin an the rotor of the motor being mounted around the bearing sleeve concentric thereto and having a hearing at its upper end in axial alignment with the bearing sleeve, the center of gravit of the motor being substantially coinci ent with the rocking center thereof, a shaft journaled at its lower end in the bearing sleeve and fixedly projecting up through the rotor bearing and above the same to have rocking movements with the motor, and a bowl carried by the shaft at its upper end for universal rocking movements relative thereto.

7. In a centrifugal machine, a vertically disposed shaft mounted for universal rocking movements, a bowl carried by the shaft for rockin movements therewith and universal roc 'ng movements relative thereto, and an electric motor connected to the shaft for driving the same and for rocking movements therewith with its center adjacent to the rocking center of the shaft.

8. In a centrifugal machine, a support, an electric motor carried for universal rocking movements by the support with its rotor axis normally in vertical position, a verti cally disposed shaft carried by the motor for rocking movements therewith and driven thereby, and a bowl carried by the shaft for universal rockingv movements relative thereto with its point of connection to the shaft su stantially in vertical alignment with its normal center of gravity.

9. In a machine of the class described, a support having spaced oppositely positioned spurs, a motor freely mounted between the spurs and having its frame provided with diametrically opposed outwardly projectin spurs at right angles to itsaxis and dispo midway between the support spurs, a mem ber extending around the motor frame transverse to its axis and having four equidistantly spaced radial sockets for respectively receiving the spurs of the su port and motor, and means in each socket ormin a yieldinlg mount for the spur dispose therein, w ereby the motor may have yielding universal rocking movements relative to the support, a shaft projecting axially from the motor for rocking movements therewith and driven thereby, and a bowl carried by the shaft for rotation therewith and universal rockin movements relative thereto.

10. n a centrifugal machine, a shaft mounted for universal rocking movements from normal vertical position, a bowl carried by the shaft for universal rocking movements relative thereto, a motor connected to the shaft for driving the same and haying rocking movements therewith, the weight of the motor being substantially centrahzed with respect to the rockin center of the shaft, and means for yieldingfi holding the shaft in upright position w on in static condition.

11. In a centrifugal machine, a motor, a shaft driven by and projecting upward cen trally from the motor, a support for the motor no'rmall tendin to hold the shaft in vert cal position an permitting universal rocking movements of the motor, and a con tainer carried by the shaft above the motor for rotation therewith and for universal rocking movements relative thereto with its center substantially coincident with the shaft axis.

12. In a centrifugal machine, a motor, a motor shaft driven by and projecting upward from the motor, a support for the motor normally tending to hold the shaft in vertical position and permitting universal rocking movements of the motor, and a container carried b the shaft above the motor for rotation t erewith and mounted for universal rockin movements relative thereto the dead weig t of the container outweighing the live weight or that of the material intended to be placed therein.

13. In a centrifugal machine, a motor, a motor shaft driven by and projecting upward from the motor, a support for the motor normally tendin vertical position an rocking movements of the motor, and a container carried by the shaft above the motor for rotation therewith and mountedfor to hold the shaft in permitting universal universal rocking movements relative thereto, the dead weight of the container outweighing the live weight or that of material intended to be placed therein, the major portion of the dead weight of the container eing disposed adjacent to its center, at which point it is connected to the shaft.

14. In a centrifugal machine, a motor having a centrally disposed rotor with the III having a centrally disposed rotor with the rotor shaft projecting upward therefrom, a support for the motor normally tending to the motor shaft in vertical position and permitting universal rocking movements of the motor, and a container mounted substantially'centrally on the shaft for universal rocking movements relative thereto with its center of gravity disposed below its rockin connection with the shaft, the total dea weight of the container beinor considerably greater than that of the material intended to be contained therein when operating and the major Weight of the container being adiacent to its center.

16. In a centrifugal machine capable of operating under unbalanced load conditions, the combination with a rotatable driven member, of a floating support on which said member is universally rockably mounted permitting free gyration of the support about an axis of rotation.

17. In a centrifugal machine ca able of operating under unbalanced conditions, the combination with a rotatable driven member, of a floating support on which said member is universally rockabl mounted permitting free gyration of t e support about an axis of rotation, and means centrifugally operated for rocking said member into symmetrical relation to the plane of rotation.

18. In a centrifugal machine capable of operating under unbalanced load conditions, the combination with a rotatable driven member, of a floating support on which said member is universally rockably mounted in stable equilibrium, said suppygrt permitting free gyration of the same a ut an axis of rotation of said rotatable member.

19. In a centrifugal machine capable of operatin under unbalanced load conditions, the com ination with a rotatable driven member, of a floating support on which said member is universally rockably mounted permitting free gyration of the support about an axis of rotation, and means for transmitting torque to said rotatable member permitting the free gyratory and rocking movements thereof.

20. In a centrifugal machine capable of operating under unbalanced conditions, the combination with a rotatable driven member, of a floating support on which said member is universally rockably mounted permitting free gyration of the support about an axis of rotation, means centrifugally operated for rocking said member into s mmetrical relation to the plane of rotation, and means for transmitting torque to said rotatable member permitting the free gyratory and rocking movements thereof.

2L In a centrifugal machine capable of operating under unbalanced conditions, the combination with a rotatable driven member, of a floating su port on which said member is universally rockabl mounted permitting free gyration of t e support about an axis of rotation, means centrifugally operated for rocking said member to distribute the load in symmetrical relation to the plane of rotation, and means for floating support, a rotatable container mounted upon said support for universal rocking movement to permit of automatic balance with respect to the plane of rotation, said container having the major portion of its weight concentrated near the center thereof, and means for applying torque to the container through the sup ort.

24. In a high speed centri ugal machine capable of operating under unbalanced load conditions, a support mounted for free universal rockin movements, a rotatable container carried by the support for free universal rocking movements relative thereto, and means for applying torque to the container withoutinterfering with the rocking movements of said container and the support.

25. In a high speed centrifugal machine capable of operating under unbalanced conditions, a support mounted for free universal rocking movements, a rotatable container carried by the support for free universal rocking movements relative thereto, means for a plying torque to the container without inter ering with the rocking movements of the container and the support, and centrifugally operated means for rocking said container into symmetrical relation to the plane of rotation.

26. In a centrifugal machine capable of operating under unbalanced conditions, a rotatable driven container, a floating support on which said container is universally rockably mounted permitting gyration of the rocking center of the container about an axis of rotation, said container being weighted to oncentrate the major portion of its weight near its center and to centrifugally operate to rock the container into symmetrical relation to the plane of rotation.

27. In a centrifugal machine capable of operating under unbalanced load conditions,

a centrifugal machine capable of operating under unbalanced conditions, a

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a rotatable driven member, a floating su with its free rt on which said member is universa y rockably mounted permitting free ration of the support about an axis of rotation, the support having drivingconnection with said member, and means rockable. with the support for applyin torque without interfering rocfiing movements.

28. In a centrifugal machine capable of operatingtunder unbalanced load conditions, a rotatable driven member, a shaft carrying the member for universal rocking movements relative to the shaft and being itself universally rockable about a center spaced from the member axiall of the shaft, and

torque applyingmeans or the shaft having its torque ap lying axis, permanently coincident with t e shaft axis.

29. In a centrifugal machine capable of operating under unbalanced load conditions, 20

a rotatable driven container, a floating support carrying the container for relative universal rocking movements permitting gyration of the support about an axis of rotation, and means for applying torque to the con- :5

, In testimony whereof, I have hereunto l0 signed my name to this s cification. WILLI EMIL BOCK. 

